The Obama/McCain Messiah Complex
Photo courtesy NBC News, Augusta, GA
In today’s New York Times, William Kristol suggests that John McCain fire his entire campaign team because of the recent firestorm regarding McCain’s rallies and his shifting positions. Kristol writes,
“McCain should stop unveiling gimmicky proposals every couple of days that pretend to deal with the financial crisis. He should tell the truth — we’re in uncharted waters, no one is certain what to do, and no one knows what the situation will be on Jan. 20, 2009. But what we do know is that we could use someone as president who’s shown in his career the kind of sound judgment and strong leadership we’ll need to make it through the crisis.”
However, there is a deeper problem regarding the trajectory of both campaigns: they have become religious. Americans are expecting too much from both of Obama and McCain. As a result, both candidates have a profound Messiah complex. Kristol is right to highlight the uncertainty of America’s future which should be a cry for the virtue of humility instead of god-like visions of, “I know what to do! Vote for me. I can solve everything! Put your faith and trust in me as your president.” People of faith have realistic views of the human person and recognize that putting our faith and trust in a presidential candidate to make the world a better place is silly.
Both men are trying to convince us that he can single-handedly fix America. Some have argued that Barack Obama and John McCain are confused because they seem to think that by winning this election they will become like a king, or chief magician, or god-like figure for the nation. Edicts, magic spells, divine-presidential-commands from heaven, and so on, will bring about widespread change and instantly make things better for “the middle class.” Sprinkle a little religious magic dust on Social Security—that’ll fix it! The president simply needs to rest his divine spirit on healthcare! Whew, that was easy!
Americans strangely have messianic visions about the office of president in these tough times: “He will heal our land and make us prosperous.” Too many of us have been drinking from the weird Kool-Aid again.
Don’t believe the hype! Neither candidate can deliver their messianic promises to fix the world. There’s a three-ring circus called Congress that will serve as the reality check on the candidate worship many Americans have been duped into practicing lately.
In the end, if we’re honest, we recognize that most of America’s problems are the result of the growing absence of the moral formation necessary to make our republic work. Any government or economic system led by people who are not pursuing a life of moral virtue ends in corruption, greed, abuse of power, and oppression.
Anthony Bradley, 36, is assistant professor of apologetics and systematic theology at Covenant Theological Seminary (Creve Coeur) and Research Fellow at the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. He holds a PhD in Historical and Theological Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary and is frequently called upon by members of the broadcast media for comment on current issues and has appeared on NPR, CNN/Headline News, and Fox News, among others. 
Welcome, Anthony. You make excellent points.
you’ve summed up my whole perspective regarding this election. So many promises and prophesies!
That was spot on. Welcome to the blog.
This blog made me think that there are two things that seem to be sorely lacking in our political leadership in Washington particularly, but at lower levels as well: Humility and an attitude of service.
And yet, the Bible is very clear about the fundamental traits of leaders. Every church that I know of includes those two demands in their services of ordination. Why do we reject them?
Congratulations Anthony on another new writing gig. Your thoughts from Acton, World, Institute, and now StlToday are always insightful and interesting. I just wish you had ten new posts every day.
Nice post Anthony. I especially like your closing paragraph. Don’t worry though - in 12 years I’ll run for president and you’ll finally have your humble servant-leader.
Nicely put. This is not a new phenomenon, but it is interesting to see how expectations have risen exponentially in terms of what the President of the United States will do for this country, and for the world.
Looking forward to reading more.
“Any government or economic system led by people who are not pursuing a life of moral virtue ends in corruption, greed, abuse of power, and oppression”.
The above truth that you have written, I hope will become inscribed into the mind and heart of every man woman and child.
Hopefully, those leaders, officials and others authorities who are guilty will recognize that their failure to pursue a life of moral virtue in the reason and cause of this countries fall and much disaster still to come.
The hope is that all the pains and struggles ahead will cause many of these hearts to change and become clean.
CORRECTIONS:
Ooops. Should have written:
{is} the reason and not {in} the reason…..and cause of this {country’s} and not countries….
Must admit, my mind do not always function and type well at the same and, on blogs I have not developed the habit of proof reading before I send as I do on paper.
Have none of you people ever lived through a presidential campaign before!!? I am dumbfounded by the naivete of this blog !!! The candidates who are running for president have several goals in their campaigning. One of those goals is to let the voting public know that they do, indeed, know what the current political climate and desires of the populace are at the time of the campaign. They do this by stating what they percieve as the most pressing issues for the government they hope to lead. It’s obvious what those issues are to any right thinking adult without a one-track mind. And I don’t mean the hot buttons of abortion, gun control, immigration and such I mean real issues like the economy, education, national security, that is, the issues which allow our nation to exist. And yes, the only way to gain a voter’s confidence is to supply some answers to questions and some solutions to problems. Anyone with any common sense and knowledge of our political system knows one man cannot cure all the problems of our nation but must be able to work with groups of people who are like minded in their approach to the problems. This is one function of political parties and their differing philosophies. Please, people, try to be a little more urbane and sophisticated in your thoughts here.